The Clock Tower Cafe

My friend and I were ecstatic to find this gem yesterday after a round of golf on an unseasonably warm Chicago afternoon ... particularly once we saw the backups on LSD.  The food was so good and interesting for what we thought would be just a burger and dog shop. I had the fish tacos, and they were about the best I've ever had.   We both had white wine and couldn't stop commenting on how it was better than most supposed wine bars ... at half the price, too. And the service was exceptional!  Cornell is a lovely, thoughtful, and really attentive caretaker busting to please his customers and grow this business!!  I would come back even in inclement weather to enjoy this wonderful place.

The kitchen is uneventful, unimagineble and I don't think ever took cooking lessons.  The $12 burger is a plain burger with fries - not even made here, but a pre-packaged patty.   Tons of ice in drinks, so little 'drink'.   Extremely poor service.  Very dirty floors, floorboards, everything.   Wait staff totally clueless.  They only put umbrellas up if people are there.  Very lazy staff, standing around joking with one another.  Coming and going.   Very very sad that this lovely establishment is so very very poorly mismanaged.   The only good thing is a view from the patio.  
P.S. they don't open until 10am despite having a huge breakfast crowd off the golf course.   Who marketed this place?  Who even researched the vast options????

I've been here twice now. The first time, I just came across it as I had no idea it existed. Yesterday I saw they put up a little sign by the bike path, which is a good idea.

The first time I went, I sat at the bar with a friend after a rousing game of tennis. Cordell was our bartender and he was da bomb! He mixes great drinks, and we trusted him to choose for us. I also had Coronas and they were ice cold!

The 2nd time I went was on the Sunday of the air and water show. I sat on the patio which overlooks the golf course. Service was slow, but they were also more crowded than when I went last, and I didn't mind because I was relaxing. However, even though I didn't mind waiting, I do have to note that the wait staff attended to and served us after a couple tables that got there after us. She kept missing our table and we had to flag her down every time we needed something.

The staff is very friendly, and they'd like to be open all year round. I wouldn't mind being a regular here, but will forego the patio in the winter.